Core

I think sight trumps all of them. I put zero effort now into scent control and I have had so many deer walk happily downwind of me near my stand on so many occasions, with zero reaction. These deer are potentially used to smells of people living in a rural (but not desolate) area, but at least the ones I've seen go from upwind to down they just don't care. Just because deer's smell is incredible doesn't mean they key off everything weird as a threat. I've had a vanishingly small number of deer look directly at me because I moved, they pause to continue looking, and they subsequently forget me and continue on. It's happened but it's rare; they either leave immediately or they do the head-jerk around thing for 10-15 minutes seeing if I'll move again--meanwhile I have no chance in the world of taking a shot because they are staring the whole time.

Meh, just found a destroyed tree in my yard, bark rubbed raw on all sides. Checked my security cam and a buck did it Sunday night.

Not been hunting since september but this week I've seen bucks around my backyard (rochester area)--at least two distinct ones. Activity has been absolutely highest I've ever seen it as of a week ago, even though this is very limited anecdotal observation. Seeing these all through the day.

I first saw this fawn about a month ago. It looked freshly born. I estimate it cannot have been born any earlier than mid-September (?). I took this pic yesterday. It's definitely putting on weight but I understand its odds are not good being this small at this point in time. For size comparison the tree next to it is 5.5-6.0' tall. I would feed this thing corn or something but we have quite a few deer around here and I fear they'd just crank through the food instantly (apparently it's also illegal).

I was a lazy bugger this year and didn't train on vertical. Xbow starting Saturday. I do not hunt at my house, but it has been hopping with deer this week. The weather looked to have been truly magnificent for hunting!

This early season thing was a bust. Very little movement. Maybe too warm. I doubt DEC going to see many tags filled tbh. I could have had a doe but on two occasions it has one or two babies with it and I couldn’t bring myself to. Was waiting for larger groups Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not a thing today yet. Normally bow season on October 1 woods are hopping. Was weak last sat also. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fawn and mom walked by. I am getting soft. I just had no inclination to orphan this deer. Waiting for a lone doe or a group. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just had something walk 50 yards 8 min before sunrise. IMO under heavy cover it’s absurdly dark 30 min before sunrise to ever consider shooting! It’s weird being out this early—and with a gun, no less. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Saw a 1.5 @ 7:00 then dead rest of morning. Nothing even in the brush to kick up. Most disappointing season since I started, though I did finally get one last weekend. Done until maybe muzzle loader now. Just too time consuming for very little harvest! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dead for me today except one deer[emoji17] Even went through the brush they are normally in. Very surprising. No idea where they were today. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Weather is amazing today. Warm and nice breeze. 1.5 year walked up at sunrise. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This clocks back thing, yuck so easy to be getting up. Weather amazing next two days and very much looking forward to start of xbow. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just watched a 1.5 yr chasing doe around 50 yards off Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fourth year at this property I can confidently say now since last year the deer are down. Last year and this I simply am not seeing as many at all. Xbow May bring a respite as my range will increase at least. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not a thing. Very surprising. Out soon and McDonalds on the way home. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Activity in last 45 min from a buck then later two doe but not quite in range. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice morning but no sightings yet. Brought daughter and she is legit asleep with a blanket and pillow. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The only time I ever got a bow shot on a deer from the ground was my first ever time hunting. It wasn't entirely dumb luck, but it was 95% luck. I tried many times after that and spooked many deer. Never got a shot. Following the advice of people who actually harvest deer a lot I bought a climbing tree stand that first year and my shot opportunities went up by magnitudes. It's natural as a beginner to maybe avoid trying too much at once, but truly hunting deer from the ground with a bow is an advanced skill. You would be surprised how much even 15' up a tree makes a difference. I've had countless deer look up at me and if I stop moving they just shrug it off. That first season I went out over 20 times before I got a deer. I worked hard at it, but it was also the most satisfying one I ever got. Keep at it Also if you're on public land you can sometimes go multiple hunts without seeing a deer. Then you come into the forum and people on private land are seeing multiple deer in a single two hour sit. The hard to find deer on public land are a huge accomplishment, even if it's a modest size doe.

Based only on what you said I think the theory is relatively sound. E.g. you can't smell a faint mint smell if your nose is over a can of open gasoline, but I imagine in practice, like with most products like this, it's impossible to really measure objectively and likely not very useful.

I went through some of my used Rage blades this morning from previous two seasons and had to admit all were beyond hope. One was broken at one of the ribs, but the rest were all slightly bent, which makes resharpening quite difficult. The 1-2 that were still straight I tried resharpening on a stone but couldn't get them razor sharp. Could certainly be user error, though. G5 fixed of course are far more liable to be reusable, but I can only get them "pretty sharp", not package sharp, no matter how many times I try it on the medium and fine stones.

That's horrendous.

Good luck. You know what else? I promise you hunting is not worth it if you run the risk of causing further shoulder damage. I hope you get better but if you are in doubt at all, back away from it. This coming from a guy who is now over a decade into knee pain due to an insatiable love of running in my younger years. I was too foolish to back off. If you can't get there, go get a Crossbow. You'll still get two beautiful weeks of weather early November. I love bow hunting but xbow is definitely pretty great, too.

That bottom corner of the field where the trees wrap around it. I bet lots of activity there

If Trump wins you better gas up the truck and drive away from the cities.